Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/521

MILITARY POLICY OF THE SOVEREIGNS. 375 The advance of the party was not conducted so chapter cautiously, but that it reached the ear of Don '- — Diego Fernandez de Cordova, alcayde de los don- zeles, or captain of the royal pages, who com- manded in the town of Lucena, which he rightly judged was to be the principal object of attack He transmitted the intelligence to his uncle the count of Cabra, a nobleman of the same name with himself, who was posted at his own town of Baena, requesting his support. He used all diligence in repairing the fortifications of the city, which, al- though extensive and originally strong, had fallen somewhat into decay ; and, having caused such of the population as were rendered helpless by age or infirmity to withdraw into the interior defences of the place, he coolly waited the approach of the enemy. ^ The Moorish army, after crossing the borders, Marches on began to mark its career through the Christian ter- ritory with the usual traces of devastation, and, sweeping across the environs of Lucena, poured a marauding foray into the rich campina of Cordova, as far as the walls of Aguilar ; whence it return- ed, glutted with spoil, to lay siege to Lucena about the 21st of April. Arabes, torn. iii. cap. 36. — Car- The donzeles, of which Diego de donne, Hist. d'Afrique et d'Es- Cordova was alcayde, or captain, pagne, torn. iii. pp. 267-271. — were a body of young cavaliers, Bernaldez, Reyes Catolicos, MS., originally brought up as pages in cap. 60. — Pedraza, Antiguedad the royal household, and organized de Granada, fol. 10. — Marmol, as a separate corps of the militia, Rebelion de Moriscos, lib. 1, cap. Salazar de Mendoza, Dignidades, 12. p. 259. — See also Morales, Obras, 3 Pulgar, Reyes Catolicos, part. torn. xiv. p. 80. 3, cap. 20. Lucena.